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Don't cry over spilled ink: Missing context prevents replication and creates the Rorschach effect in bone surface modification studies
No full textThe scientific replicability crisis has recently focused on bone surface modification (BSM) analysis, which underlies zooarchaeological and anthropological conclusions about the ecology and evolution of tool-assisted carcass consumption behavior. We review a recent blind test of inter-analyst correspondence in morphometric analysis of experimentally generated butchery marks that advocates algorithmic methods for diagnosing and measuring BSM in an effort to standardize methodology and minimize inter-analyst error (Domínguez-Rodrigo et al. 2017. Use and abuse of cut mark analyses: The Rorschach effect. Journal of Archaeological Science, 86, 14–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2017.08.001). This study overstates concern about the inaccuracy of BSM measurement and interpretation, concluding that BSM analysis is a subjective, non-scientific endeavor. Based on a minimally described sample of cut marks, it measures variables that involve inherent inaccuracy and subjectivity and overlooks how the contexts of experimental sample generation – particularly the difference between immanent and configurational processes – differentially affect cut mark morphometrics. We illustrate this discussion with experimental taphonomic examples focused on analytical context including sample construction and control over factors that affect cut mark cross-sectional size. Our analysis suggests the relationship between tool attributes and cut mark morphology is not generalizable to all experimental and archaeological butchery contexts. We show that our experimental samples capture metric variability observed in archaeological cut marks, but that intentionally incised marks and realistic defleshing marks differ in width and depth. Further, when controlling for factors that impact cut mark size including animal size class, tool type, butcher experience, and density across bone portions, overlapping cut mark widths and depths produced by phonolite and ignimbrite flakes lead to poor classification of marks according to causal flake material, which casts doubt on the ability to discriminate cut marks made by different materials. We build datasets that include diverse experimental contexts and suggest that meta-analysis can disentangle how multiple configurational factors contribute to cut mark morphometric attributes. Ultimately, progress in BSM analysis rests on inter-analyst replicability, which must be preceded by clear discussion of all parts of the inferential loop – from the design of experiments that generate actualistic analogues, to their use in supporting archaeological arguments. Otherwise, problematic expert knowledge traditions may mask arguments from authority in sophisticated methodological language and under-reported experimental context
Cultural diversity and knowledge in explaining entrepreneurship in European cities
No full textThis study establishes and empirically explores the relationship between knowledge, cultural diversity and various entrepreneurial outcomes across European cities in 2008–2010. We demonstrate that the mechanism of knowledge spillover entrepreneurship is contextual and contend that cultural diversity and knowledge have differential impact on entrepreneurial outcomes across cities and countries. Cities with high cultural diversity provide more opportunities for entrepreneurship in sectors where technology and knowledge play more important role. While in technology-based sectors, we observe a decline in employment, in cities where cultural diversity is moderately high, this effect is counteracted by an increase in demand for skilful labour that is more concentrated in culturally diverse contexts. Implications for regional and national policy makers and international entrepreneurs are offered
Space-independent community and hub structure of functional brain networks
No full textCoordinated brain activity reflects underlying cognitive processes and can be modeled as a network of inter-regional functional connections. The most costly connections in the network are long-distance correlations that, in the absence of underlying structural connections, are maintained by sustained energetic inputs. Here, we present a spatial modeling approach that amplifies contributions made by long-distance functional connections to whole-brain network architecture, while simultaneously suppressing contributions made by short-range connections. We use this method to characterize the long-distance architecture of functional networks and to identify aspects of community and hub structure that are driven by long-distance correlations and that, we argue, are of greater functional significance. We find that based only on patterns of long-distance connectivity, primary sensory cortices occupy increasingly central positions and appear more “hub-like”. Additionally, we show that the community structure of long-distance connections spans multiple topological levels and differs from the community structure detected in networks that include both short-range and long-distance connections. In summary, these findings highlight the complex relationship between the brain’s physical layout and its functional architecture. The results presented here inform future analyses of community structure and network hubs in health, across development, and in the case of neuropsychiatric disorders
A Comparison of Three Discourse Elicitation Methods in Aphasia and Age-Matched Adults: Implications for Language Assessment and Outcome
Get PDFPurpose: Discourse analysis is commonly used to assess language ability and to evaluate language change following intervention in aphasia. The purpose of this study was to identify differences in language produced during different discourse tasks in a large aphasia group and age- and education-matched control group. Methods: Four structured discourse tasks across three discourse types (expositional, narrative and procedural) were evaluated in a group of adults with aphasia (N=90) and an age-matched control group (N=84) drawn from AphasiaBank. CLAN software was used to extract primary linguistic variables (mean length of utterance, propositional density, type-token ratio, words per minute, open-closed class word ratio, noun-verb ratio and tokens), which served as proxies for various language abilities. Using a series of repeated measures ANCOVAs, with significantly correlated demographic and descriptive variables as covariates, main effects of discourse type were evaluated. Results: Despite an impoverished output from the aphasia group (i.e. the control group produced significantly more overall output), there was a main effect of discourse type on most primary linguistic variables in both groups, suggesting that, in adults with and without language impairments, each discourse type taxed components of the spoken language system to varying extents. Post hoc tests fleshed out these results, demonstrating that, for example, narrative discourse produced speech highest in propositional density. Conclusion: Each discourse type taxes the language system in different ways, verifying the importance of using several discourse tasks, and selecting the most sensitive discourse tasks, when evaluating specific language abilities and outcomes
A Comprehensive Primer to Library Learning Analytics Practices, Initiatives, and Privacy Issues
No full textUniversities are pursuing learning analytics practices to improve returns from their investments, develop behavioral and academic interventions to improve student success, and address political and financial pressures. Academic libraries are additionally undertaking learning analytics to demonstrate value to stakeholders, assess learning gains from instruction, and analyze student-library usage, et cetera. The adoption of these techniques leads to many professional ethics issues and practical concerns related to privacy. In this narrative literature review, we provide a foundational background in the field of learning analytics, library adoption of these practices, and identify ethical and practical privacy issues
Unveiling contextual realities by microscopically entangling a neutron
No full textThe development of qualitatively new measurement capabilities is often a prerequisite for critical scientific and technological advances. Here we introduce an unconventional quantum probe, an entangled neutron beam, where individual neutrons can be entangled in spin, trajectory and energy. The spatial separation of trajectories from nanometers to microns and energy differences from peV to neV will enable investigations of microscopic magnetic correlations in systems with strongly entangled phases, such as those believed to emerge in unconventional superconductors. We develop an interferometer to prove entanglement of these distinguishable properties of the neutron beam by observing clear violations of both Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt and Mermin contextuality inequalities in the same experimental setup. Our work opens a pathway to a future of entangled neutron scattering in matter
The resistance & The Stubborn But Unsurprising Persistence of Hate and Extremism in the United States
No full textThough the far right has a long history in the United States, the presidential campaign and then election of Donald Trump brought the movement out of the shadows. This article will analyze the rise in White supremacist activity in the United States-from well-publicized mass actions like the White supremacist march in Charlottesville in August 2017 to individual acts of violence happening since November 2016. This article focuses on contextualizing such incidents within this contemporary period and argues that overt expressions of racism and racist violence are nothing new. The article closes with a call to strengthen the current legal remedies used to address bias-motivated violence. The eight-year period between 2008 and 2016 has been a fascinating time for assessments of the state of race relations in America. After the election of Barack Obama, America's first Black1 president, commentators described the country as "post-racial." In a dramatic turn of events for a country that had transcended race just eight years later in 2016, Donald Trump's election as president was followed by a dramatic increase in the number of documented race-based hate crimes--crime motivated by bias on the basis of the target race. The increase in reported hate crimes continued well into the Trump Administration's first year. What was most compelling about the new hate activity was the rise of a new, open presence of extremists-those ideologically committed to White supremacy. For decades, racial extremists-members of organized hate groups and others ideologically attached to the tenants of White supremacy-had lived in the shadows. After Trump's election, racial extremists stepped into the light. This article grapples with the rise of racial extremist behavior both by ideologues who are part of hate groups and those who commit hate crimes seemingly randomly-in the wake of the 2016 presidential election. In this article, I explore the roots of bias-motivated activity that many found surprising in the election. I demonstrate how bias motivated behavior has been part and parcel of recent American history. The article addresses not only the origins of such activity but also resistance to it and the capacity of American institutions created to address bias-motivated behavior. In the end, I argue that to effectively address extremist behavior, we must examine the seriousness of our societal commitment to racial separation
Introduction to the inaugural volume of Indiana Working Papers in South Asian Languages and Cultures (IWPSALC)
No full textWelcome to the inaugural volume of IWPSALC. In creating this publication—inspired by progress reports like those published from 1965 through 1995 as the Haskins Laboratories Status Report on Speech Research—we seek to encouragescholars to publish discrete portions of their research while they work towards full papers. Too often, our work only sees the light of day when we publish in peer-reviewed journals. We set lofty goals for ourselves,which can end up delaying dissemination of our work. This practice is a positive in that it is good for our science.We want to produce the best work that we can. But there arenegative consequences to the practice as well: how much existing work currently sits somewhere in the cloud,on personal computers, and in field notebooks,unknown and inaccessible to other researchers
Lawngtlang Zophei Swadesh list
No full textThis paper presents a preliminary 100-item Swadesh word list for Lawngtlang Zophei. Zopheior Zyphe (ISO 639-3 ZYP) belongs to the Maraic branch of Kuki-Chin within the Tibeto-Burman language family (Eberhard et. al, 2019).Lawngtlang is a Zophei village in the Southeastern corner of the Zophei-speaking area in Thantlang Township, Chin State, Myanmar. Lawngtlang Zophei is considered to be part of the Lower (western) dialects of Zophei. The word list comes from the intuitions of our co-author Zai Sung,a 22-year-old native speaker born in Lawngtlang and currently living in Indianapolis, Indiana. She also speaks Hakha Chin and English, as well as having some familiarity with Burmese (the language of education in Myanmar)
Calcium Intake and Serum Calcium Level in Relation to the Risk of Ischemic Stroke: Findings from the REGARDS Study
No full textBackground and Purpose Data: on the association between calcium (Ca) and ischemic stroke are sparse and inconsistent. This study aimed to examine Ca intake and serum Ca levels in relation to risk of ischemic stroke. Methods: The primary analysis included 19,553 participants from the Reasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. A subcohort was randomly selected to create a case-cohort study (n=3,016), in which serum Ca levels were measured. Ischemic stroke cases were centrally adjudicated by physicians based on medical records. Cox proportional hazards regression for the cohort and weighted Cox proportional hazard regression with robust sandwich estimation method for the case-cohort analysis with adjustment for potential confounders were performed. Results: During a mean 8.3-year follow-up, 808 incident cases of ischemic stroke were documented. Comparing the highest quintile to the lowest, a statistically significant inverse association was observed between total Ca intake and risk of ischemic stroke (hazard ratio [HR], 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.55 to 0.95; =0.183); a restricted cubic spline analysis indicated a threshold effect like non-linear association of total Ca intake with ischemic stroke (=0.006). In the case-cohort, serum Ca was inversely associated with the risk of ischemic stroke. Compared to the lowest, the highest quintile of serum Ca had a 27% lower risk of ischemic stroke (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.99; =0.013). Observed associations were mainly mediated by type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cholesterol. Conclusions: These findings suggest that serum Ca has inverse and Ca intake has threshold effect like association with risk of ischemic stroke